The 2016
Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Ujjain has come to an end on May 22, 2016. The month-long event has been momentous on
various counts. But the event means
different things to different people.
One possible mirror that is expected to capture and reflect the mood and
reaction of this mega event is the media.
So I present a collage of media coverage of the event.
The
headlines and excerpts have been taken from the local newspapers of Madhya
Pradesh, published between April 20 to 24, 2016. The opening day and main event of first Shahi
Snan (Royal Bath of saints) was April 22.
The translations have been done by me.
I followed Ujjain edition of four Hindi dailies- Patrika (www.mp.patrika.com), Dainik Bhaskar (www.dainikbhaskar.com), Nai Duniya (www.naidunia.com), Dainik Avantika (www.awantika.com) and one local English
daily- Free Press (www.freepressjournal.com). These papers were awash with pictures and
news reports of various aspects of the mega event. The national newspapers have not captured a
fraction of the flavor conveyed in these vernacular and local dailies. For example, Times of India published a total
of about 6 reports, mostly cursory and half of them about a hailstorm killing 6
people in the Mela grounds. But the mood
in the local papers was refreshingly celebratory and positive; as compared to
the guarded curiosity, cursory reporting, elitist tokenism and superficial
criticism of most of the national English dailies. It just exemplified the gulf of difference
between the silent faithful core and the vocal rebellious fringe of this
country. I immensely enjoyed reading the
local papers and carried the copies back home for a better introspection. Here are some of the news which made
headlines locally- I wonder how much of this I would have known if I did not go
to Ujjain. Thank God I did.
But
before the news clips, a summary of highlights of the event and of opening
day and first Shahi Snan of Simhasth Kumbh Mela 2016:
- Estimated expense over two years of creating the infrastructure for hosting Simhasth Kumbh Mela in Ujjain- Rs. 3,650 crore ($545 million).
- Mela zone covers 4,000 hectares. The area divided in to 6 zones, 22 sectors, 7 satellite towns. 16 bathing ghats spread over 8.5 km- enough space for 5.8 million people to bathe in a day. Water was pumped from Narmada river to Kshipra river at flow rate of 5 cubic meters per second at an estimated cost of $11,000 per day. A 19 km pipeline was laid. Water quality prominently displayed in electronic board in Ram Ghat. 34,000 toilets constructed.
- 70 million pilgrims estimated to have visited Ujjain over the 30 days of the event. This includes 30,000 foreigners. About 1 million pilgrims came on the opening day- much less than anticipated. The draught and intense heat wave affecting several states is cited as the reason. Pilgrims from Gujarat, Maharastra, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh were conspicuous by their absence. Many of the pilgrims were from Punjab, Haryana and West Bengal.
- 50,000 pilgrims visit the temple of Mahakaal- the reigning deity of Ujjain. On a regular day, about 2,000 pilgrims visit the temple.
- 60 temporary police stations set up in Mela zone, with numbers published in newspaper. 25,000 policemen posted to maintain law and order. Another 24,000 civic police and volunteers on duty as well. 54 watch towers of height 7-35 feet. 106 Lost-and-Found centers. All kinds of helpline numbers and senior officer’s contact numbers advertised.
- Bathing ghats monitored through 670 close circuit television cameras in 134 locations with feed being beamed on 16 screens (each covering 32 locations) in police control room. Face reading camera in 14 locations. 14 cameras placed to read license plates.
- 50 layer GIS map prepared to facilitate monitoring of the Mela from the control room.
- 80 fire engines placed in 25 locations with 1150 firemen on duty.
- 1550 public transport arranged. 100 special trains arranged. Arrangement made for 118,000 vehicles to be parked every day.
- Congregation of about 200,000 saints.
- Free food cooked in 4000 locations to feed 100,000 people every day. 12,000 gas cylinders arranged daily.
- 35 ft tall and 30 ft wide bronze colored statue of Vikramaditya- the legendary ruler of Ujjain seated in his famous throne unveiled on opening day- the creation and beautification cost Rs. 67 million ($1 million).
- Full prohibition on alcohol in the city for the full month of the mela.
- Alongside the religious gathering, a month-long Simhasth Kala Utsav was organized to showcase folk and religious dance/play/songs/music in six different venues in the mela zone involving hundreds of artists/musicians from all states of India. Also, Global Yoga Convention, Yoga Seminar, International Spiritual Film Festival and 3-day Vaicharik Mahakumbh (Kumbh Mela of Philosophy/thoughts) were organized.
- 350 scientists and engineers from Department of Electronics & IT, Government of India conducted a research project on 30-minute-early warning system for stampede risk- they collected information using GPS trackers and wearable devices. Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research is a collaborator.
For
those who missed the event this year, the next Simhasth Kumbh Mela will be held
in Ujjain from April 9 – May 8, 2028.
And those who are busy during that time frame, they may consider the
next one- April 27 – May 25, 2040. J
April
21 & 22 (pre-event reporting)
- Desh duniya ko lubha rahi hain Avantika Puri- Simhasth Ujjain mein milegi aloukik anand ki anubhuti
[The
country and world is being tantalized by the city of Avantika (ancient name of
Ujjain)- divine pleasure will be experienced in the Simhasth event in Ujjain]
- 427 saal ke baad shubh yog ki tribeni
[Astrologers
say that after April 30, 1589, there has never been such confluence of
auspicious factors and astronomical alignments for 427 years until April 22,
2016; it will increase attachment towards religious and cultural values]
- Ab sikshak sadak par baithkar sraddaluo ka sahyog karenge- 1250 sikshako ko help desk aur takniki chattro ke sath lagaya mukhya margo par
[1250
teachers will assist pilgrims on the road- they will man helpdesks on various
main roads- they will be assisted by two technical college students armed with
laptops at each location]
- Jab Sant’o ne diya ek dusre ko aashirvaad- Seth Muralidhar Mansinghka Yatri Niwas me hua adbhut milan
[When
saints blessed each other…]
- Dutt Akhara Ghat- sabse pehle Juna Akhara nahayega- Simhasth 2004 ke kram anusaar hoga Shahi Snan, Ram Ghat par sabse pehle Agni Akhara snan karega
[Saints
of Juna commune will take the first bath in Dutt Akhara Ghat; the sequence of
Simhasth 2004 will be followed for the royal bath of the saint communes; Agni
commune will take first bath in Ram Ghat]
- Shahi Snan ke liye aney lagey sraddhalu- police ke nakebandi se 7-8 km paidal chalne ko ho rahe majbur
[Pilgrims
have started coming for the royal bath- due to police barricade they have had
to walk 7-8 kms]
- Bara Udasin ne bikhera jalwa, Agni Akhara bhi nikla shan se
[Bara
Udasin commune of saints take out 2-km long procession in morning to show off
the grandeur; Agni commune too takes out grand procession in the evening with
20 tractors, palki, band, horse, camels]
- Amrit snan ke liye raat 12 baje khali karaye ghat
[6
hours before first royal bath of saints, police administration clears out
general pilgrims from the bathing ghats at midnight]
- Kinnar Akhare ko jan manyata- Kinnar Akhare ki Simhasth ki pehli peshwai dekhne umri bhir, deshprem aur paryabaran sangrakshan ka diya sandesha- dil khol ke di duyae, bante note
[The
commune of Bisexuals-Transexuals take out their first ever procession in
Simhasth; crowd swells to watch; message of patriotism and ecological
protection conveyed; generously bless the crowd and distribute money]
- Shahar mein ek mah tak sharab bikri par pratibandh
[Ban
on liquor sale for one month in the city]
- Har tin minit mein Indore ke liye bus’e- 40 rupiya hoga kiraya
[Bus
service to and from Indore every three minutes (Indore is 55 km from Ujjain-
nearest airport and major rail head)- Rs. 40 will be the fare]
- 10 hazar shraddhaluo ne ki Bhasmaarti ke darshan- aam din mein 2 hazar hotein hein shamil
[10,000
faithful watch the ceremony of ablution of Lord Shiva (Mahakaal- reigning deity
of Ujjain) with crematorium ash- two thousand come to watch on regular days]
- Hanuman Jayanti aaj- Palki mein nagar bhraman karenge Bal Hanuman
[Today
is Hanuman Jayanti- the deity of baby Hanuman will be taken around town in
palanquin]
- Nau ratno ke sath biraje Samrat
[35
feet tall and 30 ft wide statue of Ujjain’s brave and famous emperor
Vikramaditya dedicated to citizens; his statue is accompanied by statues of
nine “gems” of his court including poet Kalidasa; the beautification cost Rs.
67.3 million]
- Shahi Snan ke sath prarambh hogi khuni naga’o ki diksha
[The
process of indoctrinating new ascetics in to Naga commune will begin with 108
dips in Kshipra River…those who are indoctrinated in Ujjain are termed Khuni
Nagas…before this they have to serve their Guru for three years and abide by
all discipline of the commune…after indoctrination they have to perform their
family’s and their own last rites according to Hindu custom]
April
23 & 24 (post-event reporting)
- Amrit Avgahan: 10 lakh se jyada logo ne kamaya punya- Kshipra ke zero bacteria jal mein Simhasth ka pehla shahi snan
[Over
1 million people take holy dip in Kshipra river’s zero bacteria water in the
first royal bath of Simhasth Kumbh]
- Anupam, Adwitiya, Abishwaraniya- saadi ke dusre Simhasth Mahakumbh ke pehle shahi snan mein chalka bhakti ka amrit
[Beautiful,
unprecedented, unforgettable- in the second Simhasth Kumbh mela of the century,
nectar of devotion brimmed over in the first shahi snan]
- Akhado ne dikhaya shahi tej
[The
saint communes showed royal power]
- Simhasth mein koi VIP nahin, CM se hua shuruat
[There
are no VIPs in Simhasth, starts with Chief Minister- he went around without
read beacon and follow car]
- 50 gm chandi sikke se 13 akharo ka dhwaj pujan
[The
head of all 13 saint communes were presented with a 50 gm silver coin on behalf
of the Mela organizer. As per tradition,
the flag of the commune is worshipped by the
administration. The coin has the
Simhasth logo on one side and photo of reigning deity Mahakaleshwar on the
other side]
- Sant’o ne dharm ko banaya karobaar- Ma Adi Shakti/Bakwas na karein mahila Mahamandaleshwar- Computer Baba
[Controversy:
Leading woman saint of Niranjani Akhara says many of the male saints have made
a business out of religion- women saints should stay away from it. She felt that actions of Asaram Bapu and
Nityanand were not saintly.]
- Ek dubki ke liye chalaya 10-12 km
[Due
to police barricades, pilgrims had to walk 10-12 km]
- Ek mah ki sharab shahi snan par hi pi gaye Kaal Bhairav
[The
Kaal Bhairav deity, to whom wine is offered as prayer offering, drank one
month’s quota of wine in a day, due to visit of 30,000 pilgrims as compared to
an average of 1,000 pilgrims each day]
- Pehle Shahi snan mein 100 log lapata, 20 hi milein
[On
the first day, 100 people lost, only 20 found]
- Kadi suraksha ke bawjud sahar mein kar gayi jeb
[Despite
tight security, instances of pickpocket in city]
- Murde ki bhasm arpit nahin kar sakte toh naam gobar bhasm aarti kar dein
[Kapalik
Bhairavananda Saraswati, receipient of President’s Award/Holland’s Global Peace
Award, protested against the recent practice of offering ash made from cow dung
(as opposed to ash from crematorium) to Mahakaal, saying it is anti-Tantrik and
unreligious]
- Hitech control room se ghat o par nazar
[Over
two dozen officers kept watch on the bathing ghats through 16 screens (each
covering 32 locations) using feed from 670 cctv cameras]
- Shahi snan se shuru huya yagna, chalega 108 saal
[In
Maun Tirtha Ashram on Ganga Ghat, a mega fire prayer ritual started on the
shahi snan day, which will run for 108 years]
- Kadoro ka business chor kar lagein hain sewa mein
[Karan
Mittal- owner of Mital Corp, industrialist Mangilal Ishwar, hospital owner
Krishnakant Dhoot- are few among several who have devoted themselves to serving
the pilgrims- with quotes such as “got the opportunity after 12 years”,
“nothing is bigger than serving the Guru”, and “serving pilgrims give peace”]
- Pashupatinath se Mahakaal pahuche Shakti ka jatha
[delegation
of woman saints from Nepal traveled from Pashupatinath Temple to Juna Akhara
for Simhasth]
- Sant o ne uthayi Pradesh mein sharab bandi ki awaz
[In
context of Ujjain being declared dry from the full month of Simhasth Mela, the
saints have raised the demand of permanent prohibition of alcohol in the state]
- Height of penance- Avdhoot Radhikanand performs “Surya Sadhna” for 9 hrs under scorching heat [the saint worships sun under sizzling heat from January-June and performs Varun Sadhna from October-December sitting in ice cold water]
- Recitation of Vedic hymns marks beginning of Simhastha Kala Utsav
